Lamp support



C. W. MOORE LAMP SUPPORT Aug. 18, 1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 29. 1928 gwuewtop Aug. 18, 1931. c. w. MOOREl4 I LAMP SUPPORT Filed Feb. 29. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

C/are/rce l7 Moo/a.

Aug. 18, 1931. c, w. MOORE 1,819,842

' LAMP SUPPORT Filed Feb. 29. 1928 4 sheets-"sheet. 4

gwuemtoz Patented Aug. 18, 1931 4 "UNITED STATES PATENT] CLARENCE w;M00311, or ROSLYN, PENNSYLVANIA,,ASSiGtTQR' BY MESNE ASsie1v- 1= .MENTS,To BITTER DENTAL M'ANurAcTunnm company Inc, or RocHEsT R EW YO K, ACORPORATION or DE AWARE LAMP SUPPORT,

Application filed. February 29, 1928. Serial no. 258,002,

x Thisinvention relates to lamp supports, and particularly toimprovements 'in thelamp clusters known as dental operating 1 lights. 4

,r Among the objects of the invention are;- "to provide a dentaloperating lighteluster. with means for adjusting the cluster in three.

planes; to improve the construction of lamp clusters and supports; toprovide a lamp m cluster about a hub susceptible tooscillation on ahorizontal axis passing through the' hub; to so balance the parts in anadjustable lamp cluster that an imparted position of adjustment will beretained with a min- I 5 imum of frictional resistance; to provide a 1dental operating light susceptible to adjustment to any requiredposition in response'to a single movement-by the operator; to provide anadjustable dental operating light.

instantly returnable to a normalvertical position without careful andvminute adjustments; to. providefa dental operating light susceptible toeasy and quick adjustments with an enhancement of ornamental and compactappearance thereof; toimp rovethe crane construction of dental operatinglights; and many other objects and advantages as will be more apparentas the description proceeds. 1 In the accompanying drawings disclosingan illustrativeiorm otthe invention:

Fig. 1, represents a top plan of the assembled dental operating light,and the pivoted, extensible crane upon supported, V

Fig. .Zfrepresents alongitudinal section through the assembly taken online 2-2 of Fig.1,"

which it is Fig. 3, represents a section through the '40 frictionalpivot at the inner end'of the crane,

I taken on line'3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4, represents, a vertical section through the telescoping elementsof th crane, taken on line 4+ of Fig. 2, i I

Fig. 5, represents an enlarged vertical section taken through the lampcluster, the

yoke and its support, i

Fig. 6, represents a horizontal section through the connection betweenthe yoke and I its support, taken on line 6-6. of Fig. 5,

.ing the range ofoscillation on a vertical axisto Which it issusceptible,

i F1g. 10, represents: a diagrammatic elevationo'f the lamp cluster inits normalunadjusted position in the supporting yoke, and lts Fig. 11,represents the .same with the cluster tilted or adjusted in the yoke.

With the development of thermechanical side of dentistryther'ehas'arisen the necessity for, better lighting facilities.Bettera'zo lighting has been'effected by the-cluster of lights about acentral. hub, forming standard equipment in the modern dental'office 'atthough as previously arranged. this lamp 7 cluster has been mounted onavertically adjustable. support as the only'mea'ns for adjusting theposition of the, cluster, and therefore does not provide'the utmost inlighting efliciency. 'It'has been discovered that even better resultswere obtainable when the lamp cluster was'made angularly adjustablerelative the vertical support. So far as known, however, the only meansprovided in the past for thispurpose, involved a universal connectiondisposed in the hub of the clusterfiss by means'of a ball and socketconnection, which, whileaffordinga measure of adjustability was alsopossessed of anumber of disadvantages. Among, others, the undesirablecharacteristics-ofthe ball and socket connec-Em tion were; undue'frictionalresistanc'eto movement, necessitating the use of both handsof the operator'in order ,tosecur'e' the proper adjustment as aninciden-tof the large frictional area of the ball and socket connec- FBSbe appreciable frictionalresistance .to movementin order tomaintain animparted position of adj ustment; adispleasing. and unornai mentalappearance due to the necessary disposition of the elements of the lampcluster; difliculty in returning the cluster to proper vertical ornormal position without careful and minute adjustments; undue expenseowing in part to the number of parts used. It was with these factors inmind that the invention herein was invented.

The preferred form of the invention contemplates the provision of a lampcluster comprising light sources grouped about a central hub, to which ayoke is affixed upon a horizontal axis passing substantially through thecenter of gravity of the cluster, the yoke having a limited swivelconnection 'with a vertical member, and the vertical member in turnsupported upon a novel coun terbalanced crane.

Referring now to the drawings, n Figs. 1

and 2, a vertical element or pintle 12 is provided, which may be mountedupon a wall as disclosed, or otherwise maintained in a verticalposition, as by being mounted on a dental unit. It is preferred that thepintle 12 be pivotally mounted so as to swing on a vertical axis. Thepintle 12 is enlarged as at 13, to receive the clevis 14 joined theretoby a pivot pin 15. The pin is differentially threaded at opposite ends,and is engaged by a thumb nut 16 arranged to vary the tension of thelegs of the clevis on the enlargement 13, so that pivotal movement ofthe clevis on the pintel is subject to varying resistances,

as will be clear. The clevis 14 forms a terminal of a relatively heavytube 17 formed with internal restricted bearing surfaces 18 at each endthereof, with which a relatively .thin hollow tube 20 is axiallyheld'in'the 1 heavy tube. The tube 17, at a point between its pivot 15,and its free end 19, is'formed with an integral vertical lug 21,preferably extending downwardly to engagement with t a spring unit'counterbalancing the crane.

' The preferred, illustrative form of spring unit, comprises a tubularhousing 22, closed at one end by a hinge'piece 23 pivoted to the pintle12 in vertical alignment with the pivot 15, the housing having alongitudinal slot 24 through which the lug 21 extends into the housing.The lug 21 has a threaded opening 25 in which an adjusting pin 26 ismovably mounted andarranged for adjust- -ment at the outer open end ofthe tubular housing, and having a head 27 arranged to compress a coilspring 28 against the hinge piece 23. The open end of the housing ispreferably closed by a threaded cap 30. It

' will be clear that if the spring unit were disposed above the craneinstead of below, that the coil spring would in that case be a tensionspring instead of the compression member disclosed. This spring unitextends in parallel spaced relation with the crane, and is susceptibleto easy and quick adjustments when it is desired to vary the compressiontive to counterbalance the weight of the crane and its supported weightin any position of adjustment, being maintained in a desired position ofadjustment by the frictional resistance of the pivot 15.

The inner fixed tube 20, has a threaded outer end to receive a clampingnut 31, through the center of which extends the telescopic arm 32,slidably disposed in the tube 20. The outer end of the arm 32 carries aclevis 33. It will be noted that the pintle 12, enlargement 13, and theentire crane so far described, are hollow and form conduits throughwhich conductors may extend. I

A vertical sleeve or swivel member 34 having an internal wire receivingbore 35, is pivoted fromthe clevis 33, by a hinge pin 36, and isprovided with an eccentric lug 37 toward its upper end, beneath whichthe sleeve .is restricted in diameter as at 38, and has a peripheralgroove close to the lower end.

The swivel member is arranged for swivel connection with the upper endof the yoke 41, which is provided with a bore of such diameter as tohave sliding engagement with the portion 38 of the sleeve, and whichbore opens downwardly with the lug 37 against the bottom Wall oftherecess, in which position the portion 38 extends into the bifurcationof the yoke to permit the insertion of a split washer 44 in the groove40, which is seated in a lower recess 45 in yoke, 41. This recess ispreferably closed by a plug having openings registering with the bore 35of the sleeve or swivel member to form a conduit for conductors. Theyoke at its lower end terminates in a pair of bowed legs 46, having eacha vertical groove on its inner surface, as at '47, in which conductorsmay lie. Each leg 46 is relatively slender to enhance the ornamentalaspectsof the assembly. 7 1 i i The hub of the cluster, identifiedbroadly by 48, is preferably comprised of a casting 39, as an annulus,havin a cross-web 49, and

carrying a plurality of radially extending relatively short bracketarmsor sockets 50,

lus, and evenly spaced between adjacent bracket arms, the depending ears51 are formed with openings 52 spaced below the plane of the bracketarms for reasons to be explained. The bowed legs of the yoke are engagedwith the ears of the annulus by hol lowthreaded pins 53 passing throughthe respectiveopenin'gs 52 and into the ends of the legs, in registrywith the grooves 47 formed "therein so that wires or conductors l in inthe grooves may pass through the hollow 3 pins into the'interior of thehub. 'Within "the hub nuts 54 are threaded upon the hollow pins 53,compressing coilv springs 55 against the inner surfaces of the ears, inorder to im-- parta slight frictional resistance to the pivotalconnection, which is varied by movement carried by a leg of the yoke, tomaintain the sired.

of the nuts on the threads of the pins, as de *At least one of the ears51, carries a lug or ="stop 56, and a shoulder 59, on its under surface,in position to be engaged by a lug 57 perpendicular relation of the hubto the yoke in-one direction, and to limit its relative movement in theother direction, when the cluster is adjusted for position relative apatient. The lugs and shoulder cooperate to limit the oscillation ofthe'hub, and thus the cluster, relative to the yoke in both direc---tions. p

The web 49 is arranged to support a switch of any desired constructiomasby means of screws 58, and such other terminals, etc. as maybe used. Thehub is completed by the proper positioning of opposed, preferablysubstantially identical semi-ovular shell portions; the upper shell 60having a plug 61 in the axis thereof to form a neat closure there for,and the lower shell 62 having a depending axially extending handle 63,in which a switch; control 64 is mounted, in position to j function onthe switch mounted on web 49.

It will be clear-that if desired a counterweight, (not shown), may bepositioned within the shells of the hub,'subject to vertical adjustmentsin any desired manner, as by proper actuation of the handle 63, so thatthe center of gravity of the lamp cluster may be caused to coincideexactly with the hori- 1 zontal axis of the hub as defined by the pins53. With such accurate adjustment the frictional devices associatedwiththe pins 53 --would be discarded as unnecessary. How-- ever, withoutsuch counterweight, it: is fpointed out that the center of gravityof'the lamp cluster is substantially on the horizontal axis in any case,owing to the disposition of thebracket arms with their attachedilluminants, to be described, ona plane above that passing through theaxis, so that the frictional elements shown, or such others as may beused will impose but little resistance to ad ust ng movement, belngmerely sufficient and adequate to maintain a desired position.

It will be'understood that the bracketarms 50 are internally bored tohouse" conductors pass ng through them, and each is arranged to receivethe vertical portion of a gooseneck 65, extendlng upwardly to apointabove the blfurcation of the yoke thenbendmgdownwardly andoutwardly-in planes-radially of the hub, and supporting illuminatingsources or lamps 66, the lower extremities of which are below thebottomend of the hub and so disposed that the center of gravity of the.assembled light sources and theirimmediate supports is substantially in,the plane of. the

horizontal axis of the hub. It will be noted that there is but littleclear .ance between the thin but fairly wide legs of the yoke, and theouter surface of the hub so that the compactness of the assembly, andits ornamental effect is maintained, while affording ample clearance forthe hub, and the lamp cluster of which it is the center, to swing-on thehorizontal axis without interference between the hub and the yoke,-orthe yokeand the bracket arms or goos'enecks. V

I As it is neither necessarynor desirable that the lamp cluster be swungin any direction. other than toward the patient the limitations placedupon the adjustments between the yoke and hub conduce toward that end,but also enable the operator to return the lamp cluster to normalposition instantly by swings.

ing it from its, adjusted position on its horlzontal axis, (Fig 11), toits vertical ,position thereon, (Fig. 10), bythe abutment of the lugsofthe yoke'and ear of the hub, as

will be clear. In securing any desired adjust-1 I ment, whethervertical, bymovement of the crane, horizontal, by the vertical axis ofthey swivel connection; at the top of the yoke, or of the clusteritselfon-a horizontal axis, it

will be clearthat the operator may simply grasp the handle63, and secureany of these ,ad'ustments or an combinationsof them b propermanipulations of the handle, and thus of the cluster. In the samemanner, and with out appreciable effort the lamp cluster may,

be returned .to normal position. As noted such ease of ad ustment andreturn ism contrast to the minute and careful, and manuallypressed'below the lower levels of the indi- Y vidual lights of thecluster as is necessary when the universalconnection at the to'p ofthejhub is provided.

The'lamp support of this invention is easier to adjust than the previousconstructions involving the ball and socket as it will move properlyeven though the operator inadvertently exerts force'andlturning stresson the cluster in thewrong dlrection, whereas due to unavoidableimperfections resulting in uneven and unpredetermined friction the. balland socket connection tends to assume an improper position as much asthepr-operone,

even though the operators force is properly directed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lamp cluster including a hub having a closed upper end, lightsources mounted on porting the hub for oscillation on the supporta ingmeans, both said last mentioned means being provided with electricconductor receiving channels whereby conductors may extend from the lastmentioned means to the light sources on the hub below the closed end ofthe hub.

2. A lamp cluster including a hub comprised of a ring and radiallyextending arms, hub shells mounted on the ring and extending verticallytherefrom, light sources mounted on the arms, ears formed on the ring atdiametrically opposite points between thev mentioned shank limiting theinward movearms, a yoke arrange-d to straddle the upper shell of thehub, and means pivotally connecting the yoke to the ears so that the hubmay oscillate on a horizontal axis.

3. A lamp cluster including an oval shaped hub, arms extending from thesubstantial center of the hub, light sources carried by the arms andevenly disposed about the hub, a yoke arranged to straddle the hub,means for connecting the yoke to the hub between pairs of arms below thelevel of said arms so that the hub may oscillate in the yoke on ahorizontal axis passing substantially through the center of gravity ofthe cluster.

4. A lamp cluster including a cast ring having oppositely disposeddepending ears, radially extending arms mounted on the ring above thelevel of the ears, an oval hub mounted on the ringvertically extendinggoose necks mounted on the respective arms and spaced from the hub bythe length of said arms, substantially, the goose necks terminating inlight sources and each gooseneck positioned in a plane respectivelyradial of the hub, a yoke having legs curved to straddle the hub inevenly spaced relation thereto substantially through their lengths, andmeans pivotally connecting the legs of the yoke with the respectiveears, the diameter of the yoke being such as to permit relativeoscillation of 6. A lamp cluster including a pivotally mounted sleevesupport, arranged for free swinging on a. substantially horizontal axis,the sleeve having a shank and an eccentric, a yoke having a bore toreceive the shank of: the sleeve and axially recessed to receive theeccentric, a stop disposed in the recess arranged to abut the eccentricto limit rotational movement of the yoke relative the sleeve, means forconnecting the sleeve and yoke in a rotative assembly, and alamp clustersupported by the yoke.

7. In a lamp cluster, sources of illumination, a-yoke supporting saidsources on a substantially horizontal axis, the upper end of theyoketerminatingin a shank having a bore, and upper and lower recessescommunicating therewith, the upper recess having an internal-stop or lugprojecting from the outer periphery of the shank, a sleeve having ashank slidably insertable in the bore of the yoke, an eccentricextending from the last ment of the said shank in said bore, the lastmentioned shank having a peripheral groove, means engageable in saidgroove to limit the outward movement of the shank in said bore, andseatable in the lower recess of the yoke shank, the stop andeccentricarranged for abutting engagement as the yoke is oscillated in relationto the sleeve.

8. A'lamp cluster comprising a hub, light sources carried by the hub, ayoke arranged to straddle the hub, the yoke having arms having internalgrooves, hollow pins connecting the yoke arms to the hub and formingconduits'in registry with the grooves of said arms for the reception ofconductors and permitting their extension into the hub for distributionto the light sources, the yoke having a hollow shank, a hollow sleeverotatably supporting the yoke through which the conductors may extend tothe grooves in the arms of said yoke, a hollow support for the lampIcluster arranged to house the conductors extending into the hollowsleeve.

9. In a lamp cluster, a lamp support comprising a supporting member, acrane frictionally pivoted thereto, a stud extending from the cranevertically of the crane, a

allelism with the crane between its pivot and the stud with the studextending into the slot in the tube, and meansfor varying the conditionof the spring device including a follower threaded in the stud anddisposed in the tube.

10. In a lamp cluster, a hub of substantiallyoval shape, arms and goosenecks eXtending from the hub and substantially centered thereonvertically, a yoke including relatively thin legs arranged to straddlethe upper end of the hub and substantially uniformly but inappreciablyspaced therefrom, means connecting the yoke to the hub on asubstantially horizontal axis below the arms, and light sourcesdepending from the goose necks cooperating to bring the center ofgravity of the assembly in substantial registry with the horizontalaxis, to form an ornamental, adjustable lamp cluster.

11. A lamp cluster including a hub having a closed upper end, radialarms uniformly spaced about the periphery of said hub and carrying lightsources, oppositely disposed means engaging the hub to provide ahorizontal axis extending diametrically of the hub and peripherallyspaced between certain of said arms below the closed upper end, avertically extending supporting element also spaced between certain ofsaid arms for supporting the hub for oscillation on said oppositelydisposed means, both'said last mentioned means having channels forelectrical conductors leading into the hub below the closed upper endthereof.

12. A lamp cluster comprising a hub, goose necks mounted on said hub atsubstantially the vertical center thereof, the goose necks having legsextending vertically in substantial parallelism with the vertical axisof the hub and in closely spaced relation to the hub, light sourcesmounted on the goose necks in such manner as to create a center ofgravity for the assembled hub, goose necks and light sources inproximity to the vertical center of said hub, and vertical supportingmeans arranged in spaced relation to the hub and extending between apair of goose necks,

and connected to said hub on a horizontal A axis passing substantiallythroughsaid center of gravity to form a compact unit which issusceptible to a wide range of adjustments.

13. A lamp cluster comprising a hub, having an upper tapered surface,light sources and means for supporting said light sources on the hub insuch manner as to locate the center of gravity of theassembly near themiddle of the hub, said means including elements including verticalportions radially closely spaced from the hub, a supporting arm for theunit including a vertically extending element merging into a curvedelement, pivotally connectedto the unit on a horizontal axis passingsubstantially through said center of gravity of the unit,

upon which the unit may be oscillated with the vertical portion of thearm in the path of movement of the vertical portion of the light sourcesupporting means, said vertically extending portion of the arm bearingsuch proportion to the curved portion of said arm as to prevent contactbetween the supporting arm and the light source supporting means.

incident to a maximum oscillation of the unit upon its pivot.

14;. A lamp cluster comprising a hub having a closed upper end, radiallydisposed light sources carried by the hub, a yoke arranged to straddlethe hub in substantially uniformly spaced relation to the closed upperend of the hub, and means for pivotally connecting the yoke and hub on asubstantially horizontal axis passing substantially through the centerof gravity of the hub and light sources, and said means having chan nelsfor electric connectors for the light sources.

15. A lamp cluster including a hub of generally oval shape having aclosed upper end, radial arms peripherally spaced about the substantialcenter of said hub and carrying light sources, an inverted yoke havinglegs straddling the hub and extending vertically, means between the yokeand said hub forming a horizontal axis extending diametrically throughthe hub just below the level of said arms and peripherally spacedbetween certain of the arms, the yoke having a substantially uniformclearance from the closed upper end and the horizontal axis having achannel for the reception of electrical connectors leading into thehub.-

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CLARENCE W, MOORE.

